Refrigerating apparatus



Jan. 2.5, 1938. R, M, SMITH 2,1o6,685

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 29, 1936 -2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w INYENTOR Z w BW: 61.4%

ATTORNEYS Jan. 25, 1938. R. M. sMlTH REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 29, 1936 2 Sheets-Shee-t 2 fify 4 INVNTOR.

BY wz ATI'TORNEYS Patented Jan. 25, 193

REFRIGERA'EING PPARATHJS Rolf M. Smith, Dayton, hio, assignor to Genera] Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corlwration of Delaware Appiicaurebmaw 29, 1988, serial No. 66,481

12 Cis.

. which have a relatively low starting torque. It

is, therefore, necessary to provide some protection for such motors to prevent excessive starting loads thereon. One simple method of unloading the compressor during the starting of the motor is to operate the compressor in the reverse direction to sweep compressed refrigerant from the compressing chamber and then to rotate the motor and compressor in the forward direction. This method is applicable to a number of types of compressors, particularly rotary compressors provided with fiapper or check discharge valves. While such a method may be easily practised manually, it is difficult to provide a satisfactory control which will operate automatically to reverse the motor for only a very few turns and thence to operate the motor in the forward direction during the remainder of each Operating period.

It is an object of my invention to provide an automatic control means for a motor pump unit which will rotate the motor-compressor unit in a reverse direction for a relatively few number of turns to unlcad the pump and thence to operate the motor pump unit in the forward direction during the remainder of each Operating period.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a single phase induction motor with a. control means for first energizing the phase winding in the reverse direction, thence in the normal directionand thereafter deenergizing the phase winding independently of the main winding, all by a single electromagnetic Operating means.

It is another object of my invention to .provide a reversible single phase induction motor with a 'separate exciting or current generatlng controlled means for terminating the reverse energizatlon of the phase winding and starting the normal enrgization of the phase winding.

It is another object of my invention to operate a reversing means for an electric motor by means which increases in-power with the speed of the motor.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description. reference being' had to the accompanying drawings, Wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a refrigerating system embodying my invention;

i Flg. 2 is a section taken along the lines 2-2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a practical form of control device shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation looking at the front of the control device shown in Fig. 3.

Briefly, I have disclosed a refrigerating system including a sealed unit containing an eccentric type of rotary compressor provided with a check valve on its discharge side and driven by a split phase type of induction motor directly connected to the compressor. The compressor circulates refrigerant through a refrigerating system. This compressor may be unloaded by rotating the compressor in the reverse direction for a minimum of something between one and two revolutions depending upon the position of the eccentric at the time the compressor is started in the reverse direction. However, two or three turns in the reverse direction are ordinarily sufiicient to insure unloading of such a compressor. I In order to accomplish this unloading, a reversing switch is provided for controlling the supply of energy to the phase winding of the motor, which reversing switch is biased to direct the flow of electric energy in the reversed direction through the phase winding. A solenoid energized by a separate exciting winding wound in the stator of the motor is provided for Operating this reversing switch to energize the phaselwinding in the normal direction after several reverse turns of the motor and compressor. This solenoid also acts to open the phase Winding circuit after the motor has reached a suflicient speed. A bimetal overloading device and a thermostatic temperature responsive switch means are provided in the motor circuit for controlling the energization of the motor.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown a refrigerating system including a sealed unit containing a rotary compressor 22 of the eccentric type having a rotatable eccentric 24, a divider block ,26, an inlet 28, an outlet and a check valve 32 for controlling the discharge of compressed refrigerant from the compressor. This compressor 22 is directly connected to the rotor 34 of a split phase induction motor having in its stator a main or running winding 36, a starting (ir phase winding 38 and a separate exciting coil or winding 40 which is wound upon the stator o f the rotor along with the main and running windings.

' pressor is rotated in vthe reverse direction for two The'compressor 'discharges compressed refrigerant through the check valve 32 at the outlet of the' compressor from which it is conducted 54 by lthe evaporation of liquid refrigerant under i reduced pressure and this evaporated refrigerant is returned to the inlet 28 of the compressor through the return conduit 56.

The operation of the compressor is Controlled by a snap acting switch means 58 located in the supply line of the-electric motor and operated' according to the temperatureof a vthermostatic bulb 60 located within the enclosure 54 containing the medium to be cooled. If the motor should start in the"forward direction after an idle period, considerable torque would' be required to operate the compressor because the pressure upon the outlet side of the compressor is considerably greater than the pressureat the'inlet of the compresor in addition to the friction load of the compressor. However, if the comfor three revolutions, the greater part of the gas within the pumping chamber of the compressor Will be swept or pumped back into the suction or return' conduit 56 andwhatever gas there is within the pump chamber of the compressor will be at 'a relatively low pressure which will probably be. a pressure in the neighborhood of the pressure in the suction or return conduit 56. Thus, such a reversing operation prepares the motor for an easy start in the forward direction since more than one turn of the compressor can ordinarily be made after reverse operation with but little gas compressed, and this is suificient to provide the motor with a suficient start to enable it to carry the pumping or compressing load thereafter imposed upon it for the remainder of the Operating period.

It has'been found somewhat difficult to provide a practical form of control means for providing automatic operation of' the motor-compressor unit in this manner. Several operative devices have been Controlled by bimetallic means heate'd by motor currents. I find'that bimetallic control means ordinarily provide a reversing operation which is longer thannecessary and thus delay the effective operation of the' compressor.

In order to provide a quicker operati'ng control device,.I have provided a single electromagnet for reversing the energization of thel -electri'c cmotor several revolutions after the motor has started in the reverse direction. .Thereafter this electromagnetic means holds the reversing device in the proper positionfor forward operation. I also employ this electromagnetic means for deenergizing the starting winding. This ,electromagnet is energized by the separate exciting coil 40. The separate exciting coillha's created therein a relatively small amount of excitation by the main and starting windings 36 and 38,'

while the rotor` 34 is idle: 'This is believed to be provided by a transformer' effect in the stator of forming this function.

the motor. However, when the rotor begins to rotate, this separate exciting winding has additional voltage generated or excited therein which 'increases in substantially direct proportion to the' speed of the rotor. This separate exciting winding40 is connected to an electromagnet 62 which, of course, creates av magnetic effect which is proportional to the excitation .of the exciting winding 40.

In the figure, above the elctromagnet 62, is a reversing switch provided with an armature 64 capable of being attracted by the electromagnet'. This armature is fastened to an insulating membei' 66 which is provided with switch contacts 68 and 10 lwhich'iare insulated from each other.

This insulating member 66 is mounted upon the 'free end of' a leafespring 12 which is anchored at the opposite end in such a way that it is biased in the-upward direction by its own resll- `iencyso that the contacts 68 and 10 are thus held resiliently in contact with the upper coop- 'erating contacts 14 and 16. These upper contacts 14 and 16 are connected by electrical con- I ductors 18 and to the starting or phase winding 38 of -the'electric motor. This starting or `phase winding 38 is supplied with electric energy from the supplyrconductors 82 and 84 through the conductors 86 and 88 which connect to the contacts 68, 10 and 14,)16 to supply electric energy to the phase winding 38'in the direction which causes the motor to operatein a reverse direction at an' increasing speed.

However, within several turns of the motor in the reverse direction, the exciting winding becomes excited sufciently to cause the electro-- magnet 62 to attract the armature 64 to draw' -the contacts 68 and 10 into contact with a second set of contacts 90 and 92, which, .through the conductors 94 and 96, reverses the energization of the starting or phase winding 38. This reverse energizing of energy stops the rotor 34 and then tends to cause it to rotate in the forward direction. T he 'amount of 'excitation generated bythe transformer effect i-n the motor windings, even when the rotor is stoppedat the point of reversal of operation, is sufi'lcient to enable the electromagnet 62 to..ho1d the armature 64 in its downward position against" the relatively 'light tensionof the leaf' spring `|2 which supports the movable contacts. However, the amountof'excitation when the rotor is stopped is insufficient to pull themovable contacts from their upper position to their lower position. It is only sufiic'ient 'to retain themovable contacts in their lower .position after they have moved to. such a position. If the exciting `current provided by the exciting'coil 40 should b'e insufficientat the time of reversal of operation, an additional winding ofrather few turns may be added to the electro-'- It is normally desirable to deenergize the starting winding after the motor reaches approximately full speed. This deenergization may readily be accomplished by the use of the exciting winding' 40 and the electromagnet 62 since' such a circuit has admirable characteristics for per- I, therefore, provide a. second armature |02 beneath the velectromagnet 62 and mounted upon the free end ofa relativel heavy leaf spring .I 04 which is anchored at its opposite end to an adjustable'anchor which imposes' sufiicient' tensionupon the leaf spring to prevent the armature |02 from 'being attracted aioaees until the excitation of the electrcmagnet G2 approaches the amount exerted at full speed. This leaf spring m0 is provided with a contact m0 which cooperates with a stationary contact m2 located in series with the electric conductor 82 which feeds the starting or phase winding. Thus, this conductor 00 is not deenergized until a considerable period after the motor has reverse-d its direction of operation and has operated in the forward direction for a sucient period of time to enable it to reach a speed where it may operate without the benefit of the starting winding.

Both the starting and running winding are protected against overloads or excessive current fiow by a bimetal thermal overload device M0 which is located in series with the snap acting thermostatic switch 58 in the supply conductor 82.

In F-igs. 2 to 4 apractical form is shown of the diagrammatically illustrated motor control means. In this practical form, there is provided a base 205. of sheet insulating material to which is fastened at one edge a fianged copper or brass plate 203 .over which is mounted the thermal overload mechanism generally designated by the reference character 2|0 which corresponds to the thermal overload mechanism ||0. In this thermal overload mechanism, there is an electrical conductor 205 which connects to the line conductor through the thermostati'cally controlled switch 58. This conductor 205 connects to a contact 201 which is mounted upon the insulating base 20| spaced from the copper plate 203.

This contact 201 cooperates with a contact provided upon the bottom of a copper strip 209 provided with a hooked end which is engaged by a U-shaped toggle lever 2|| pivotaliy mounted upon knife edges provided in an adjustable U- shaped circuit 2|3. The upward movement of this U-shaped toggle lever is limited by the large fiat headed screw 255 threaded into the base 20|. This toggle lever 2|| is connected by ,a tension toggle spring 285 to a tapered bimetal member 2M which is riveted to a post 2|0 fastened to the insulating base 20| and the copper plate 203. The copper strip 209 is also riveted to the insulating base and the copper plate 203. A square post 22| is mounted upon and riveted to the copper plate 202. A curled heater wire 223 has one end connected to this square post 22| with its curled portion supported directly over the bimetal member 2|? while its opposite end is connected to a` second square post 225 which is fastened to the insulating base 20|.

This second square post 225 is connected by a conductor 221 to one end of the running winding and is likewise connected by a conductor 229 to a conductor member 23| formed of thin strip brass or other suitable metal which is fastened at one end to the insulating base 20| while its opposite end supports a contact 208 (which corresponds to the contact |00 of Flg. 1). This contact 208 cooperates with a. cooperating contact 206 (which corresponds to the contact |06 of Fig. 1) fastened by riveting to a spring contact member 204 (corresponding to the spring member |04) which is provided at its free end with'an armature 202. This spring member at the end opposite the armature 202 is riveted to a heavy sheet metal structural member 233 which is spot welded to a second structural member 235.

An adjustment means is provided by which the free end portion of this structural member 233 may be sprung in order to change the angle of the anchoring of the end of the spring member 201i. IThis is done by providing a plate member 2m7 provided with a screw 233 which is threaded into the member 223 so as to exert a ben'ding Stress upon the member 233 sufi'icient to change its angularity slightly. By tightening or loosening the screw 230, the tension of the spring member 200 is decreased or increased to lower or raise the motor speed at which the contacts 203 and 202 are opened to open the starting winding circuit.

An electrical conductor 22| extends from the spring member 202 to a second, spring member 912 which is anchored to the free end of the structural member 225. This free end of the structural member 235 is also provided with an adjustment which includes the plate 223 provided with a screw 225 which is threaded into the free end of the structural member 235 in order to exert a bending stress thereon. This bending Stress will change the angularity of the anchoring portion of the spring member |`l2 so that when the screw is tightened, the tension of the spring member M2 will be reduced, while when the screw is loosened the tension upon the spring member |'l2 will be increased. The spring member |'f2 is provided at its opposite end with an armature lB which corresponds to the armature of Fig. 1.

This armature itd, as well as the armature 202,

'is attracted by an electromagnet |G2 which is provided with a threaded soft iron core 221 provided with screw slots at each end so that the soft iron core may be raised or lowered with respect to the armatures 960 and 202 merely by the use of a screw driver to turn the soft iron core which is threaded into the body of the electromagnet.

This electromagnet |$2 is mounted within a U- shaped portion of the structural member 235 `which preferably is made of a soft steel so that this portion of this member may act to carry the flux of the electromagnet and thereby increase its emciency.

The spring member |'i2 is also provided with an insulating member which carrles a pair of separately mounted spring tongues. each of which has a pair of movable contacts |60 and 10 (see Pig-2) which corresponds to the contacts 68 and 10 of Fig. 1. On one side of the contacts, there is provided a stationary strip conductor member 96 (corresponding to the conductor 96 of' Fig. 1) which is provided at its upper extremity with a contact .Im corresponding to the contact 'M of Fig. 1 which cooperates with the contact |08, while at the other end of this member |06. there is provided a second contact |92 (corresponding to the contact 02 of Fig. 1) which cooperates with the movable contact |70. This member |96 is connected by an electrical conductor |00 which corresponds to the conductor 80 of Fig. 1, to one end of the phase winding of the motor.

A second conducting strip member |94 connected to an electrical conductor |10 (corresponding to the conductors 'E3 of Fig. 1) is connected to`the opposite end of the phase winding of the electric motor. This conducting strip member |94 is provided with an upper contact |16 (correspondlng to the contact T6 of Fig.. 1) which cooperates with the movable contact I 10 and a lower contact (corresponding to the contact 90 of Fig. 1) which cooperates with the movable contact |63. The armatures |34 and 202 are provided with a silencing means in the form of a Vertical rod 249 fastened to the insulating base 20| and the structural member 235. This rod is provided with round felt members 25| which are held against In operation, the lower spring member 204 is anchored so that its free end is urged downwardly v felt member 25| with the conwith each other.

against the lower tacts 206 and 208 in engagement Likewise, the spring member |52 has its anchor-I at such an an'gle that its free end is the uppermost felt member but with not nearly so much force as is the lower spring member 204 against its stop. In fact, the.free end of this spring member |52 should very nearly float.

When the free end of the spring member |12 is against its stop, the movable contacts provided thereon are against the upper contacts IM and |16 (see Fig. 2) so that when the thermostat lswitch closes to energize the motor, the current fiows from the conductor 205 through the contact 201 to the copper strip 209 and from the copper strip to the copper plate 203 and thence from the copper plate 203 to the post 22|, thence through the electric heater 223 to the secohd post 225. From the second post 225 some of the current fiows to the running winding through .the conductor 221, while other current fiows through the conductor 229. to the strip conducting member 23|, thence through the contact 208 and.206 to ing support 2 the spring member-204; From the spring member 200v the current is conducted through the conductor 24| to the tongue which carries the contact |68. During this starting ISB is in engagement wit. the contact' |`l4 so that current fiows therefrom to the conductor |80. After passing through the phase winding the current then fiows through the conductor |'I8 to the contact HS, thence to the contact 110 and its spring tongue to a conductor l08 (corresponding to the conductor 88) which connects to the line.

At this time a small amount of current is excited in the exciting winding or motor land this is transmitted to the electromagnet |62. At the beginning this is insufficient to attract the armature IM because the armature N54 is in its uppermost position spaced away from the electromag'- net. However, because the armature |64 is in its uppermost position in which the electric energy fiows throughthe phase winding in the reverse direction, the motor begins to turn in the reverse direction. With the turning of the motor in the reverse direction at an increasing speed, the excitation lupon the exciting winding increases, thereby causing an increase in voltage and current fiow so that after several turns of the motor at increasing speed, the electromagnet |62 has' sufflcient attractive power to attract the armature IM and to move it to and hold it in its lowermost position in which the movable contacts |6B and |`|0 make engagement with the lower contacts |90 and |92 to reverse the flow of current through the phase winding 'of the motor so as to cause the motor to tendto rotate in' the forward direction. This stops the reverse rotation of the motor andthen starts the motor in the forward direction.

During this time' the current in the exciting winding a-nd the electromagnet |52 will fall, but a sufiicient amount of current will fiow to provide a lsufticient attractive force to retain the armature |64. The force required to retain the armature |84 is, of course. greatly less than the force reperiod the contact cause of the pull of gravity thereon. ,The pull of gravity favors the attractionof the upper armature |64- but counteracts the attraction of. the armature 202. Thus, a considerably greater attractive force is required-to attract the armature 202. Therefore, this armature will not be attracted until a considerable speed is attainedlof the motor approaching full speed, In'this way, contacts 206 and 208, a'lthough operated by the same electromagnet,are not opened to deenergize the phase winding until a'considerable time after the reversing switch Controlled by the upper spring member is operated. Thus, a single exciting coil and a single electromagnet are sufficient to operate both the reversing switch and the starting winding switch.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein described, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A motor pump unit including a motor and a pump driven by said motor, said pump having a pumping chamber provided with a check valve at its outlet for preventing the fiow of discharged fiuid back into the pumping chamber, said pumping chamber being provided with a piston capable of forcing fiuid from 'the pumping chamber through the check valve at its outlet when the motor operates in a forward direction and to sweep fiuid from the pumping chamber through the inlet When the motorl operates in -a reverse direction, and a speed responsive control means responsive to the speed of the motor for setting the unit to first start the motor in a reverse direction to unload the pump and then setting the .unit to operate the motor in the forward direction during the remainder of each Operating period.

2. A motor pump unit including a motor and a vits outlet for preventing the flow of discharged fiuid back into the pumping chamber, said pumping chamber being provided with a piston capable of forcing fiuid from' the pumping chamber through the check valve at its outlet when the motor operates in a forward direction and to sweep fiuid from the pumping chamber through the inlet when the motor operates in a reverse direction, and an electrical generating means for setting the unit to first start the motor in a reverse direction to unload the pump and then setting the unit to. operate the motor in the forward direction during the remainder of each Operating period.

3. A motor pump unit including a motor and a pump driven by'said motor, said pump having a pumping chamber provided .witha check valve at its' outlet for preventing the flow of discharged fiuid back into the pumping chamber, said pumping chamber being provided with a piston capable of forcing fiuid from the pumping chamber through the check valve at its outlet when the motor operates in a forward direction and to sweep fiuid from the pumping chamber through the inlet when the motor operates in a reverse direction, said motor being provided with an exings, mean energized by said exciting coil for` aioaeea chamber through the check valve at its outlet when the motor operates in a forward direction and to sweep fiuid from the pumping chamber through the inlet when the motor operates in a reverse direction, said motor being provided with electrical phase and main windings, means for oonducting energy to said windings, a control means including a solenoid operated control device for controlling the conduction of energy to one of the windings to first cause the motor to rotate in the reverse direction and then to alter the energization of the one winding to cause the motor to operate in the forward direction.

5. A motor pump unit including a moton and a pump driven by said motor, said pump having a pumping chamber provided with a check valve at its outlet for preventing the iiow of discharged fiuid back into the pumping chamber, said pumping chamber being provided with a piston capable of forcing fiuid from the pumping chamber through the check valve at its outlet when the motor operates in a forward direction and to sweep fluid from the pumping chamber through the inlet when the motor operates in a reverse direction, said motor being provided with electrical phase and main windings, means for conducting energy to said windings, a control means including a solenoid operated control device for controlling the conduction of energy to one of the windings to first cause the motor to rotate in the reverse direction and then to alter the energization of the one winding to cause the motor to operate in the forward direction and then to deenergize the phase winding independently of the main winding.

' 6. A motor pump unit including a motor and a pump driven by said motor, said pump having a pumping chamber provided with a check valve at its outlet for preventing the flow of discharged fiuid back into the pumping chamber, said pumping chamber being provided with a piston capable .of forcing fluid from the pumping chamber through the check valve at its outlet when the motor operates in a forward' direction and to sweep fiuid from the pumping chamber through the inlet when the motor operates in a reverse direction, said motor being provided with electrical phase and main windings and an exciting coil, means for oonducting energy to said windcontrolling the conduction of energy to one of the wlndings to first cause the motor to rotate in the reverse direction and then to control the conduction of energy to said one winding to cause the motor to operate in the forward direction.

7. A motor pump unit including a motor and a pump driven by said motor, said pump having a pumping chamber provided with a check valve at its outlet for preventing the flow of discharged fiuid back into the pumping chamber, said pumping chamber being provided with a piston capable of forcing fiuid from the pumping chamber through the check valve at its outlet when the motor operates in a forward direction and to sweep fiuid from the pumping chamber through the inlet when the motor operates in a reverse direction, said motor being provided with electrical phase and main windings, a reversing switch connected to said phase winding for controlling the supply of energy thereto, said reversing switch being biased to one position, and electromagnetic means operable after a plurality of revolutions of said motor for moving said reversing switch to a second position to reverse the energization of said phase winding.

8. A motor pump unit including a motor and a pump driven by said motor, said pump having a pumping chamber provided with a check valve at its outlet for preventing the flow of discharged fiuid back 'into the pumping chamber, said pumping chamber being provided with a piston capable of forcing fiuid from the pumping chamber through the check valve at its outlet when the motor operates in a forward direction and to sweep fiuid from the pumping chamber through the inlet when the motor operates in a reverse direction, said motor being provided with electrical phase and main windings, a reversing switch connected to said phase winding for controlling the supply of energy thereto, said reversing switch being biased to one position, and electromagnetic means operable after a plurality of revolutions of said motor for moving said reversing switch to a second position to reverse the energization of said phase winding, land means for deenergizing said phase winding following the reversing of said reversing switch.

9. A motor pump unit including a motor and a pump driven by said motor, said pump having a pumping chamber provided with a check valve at its outlet for preventing the flow of discharged fiuid back into the pumping chamber, said pumping chamber being provided with a piston capable of forcing fluid from the pumping chamber through the check valve at its outlet when the motor operates in a forward direction and to sweep fiuid from the pumping chamber through the inlet when the motor operates in a reverse direction, said motor being provided with electrical phase and main windings, a reversing switch connected to said phase winding for controlling the supply of energy thereto, said reversing switch being biased to one position, electromagnetic means operable after a plurality of revolutions of said motor for moving said reversing switch to a second position to reverse the energization of said phase winding, and means operated by said electromagnetic means following the reversing of said reversing switch for deenergizing 'the phase winding.

10. Anlele'ctric motor pump unit including an electric motor and a pump driven by said electric motor, said pump having a pumping chamber provided with a check valve at its outlet for preventing the flow of discharged fiuid back into the pumping chamber, said pumping chamber being provided with a piston capable of forcing fiuid from the pumping chamber through the w check valve at its outlet when the electric motor then 'to alter the supply of energy to cause the 76 motor to reverse its direction of operation and mainder erates in a forward direction and to sweep fluid ing to operate the from the chamber through the inlet when the motor operates in a reverse direction, and speed responsive control means responsive to the speed of the motor for energizing the motor windings to first start the motor in a reverse direction to unload the pump and then energizing the windmotor'in a forward direction during the remainder of each operating perlod.

-mainder of .each Operating period.

I 12. A motor pump unit including a motor and a pump driven by said motor, saidv motorhavlng windings capable ofbeing energized to operate the motor in either the .reverse or forward direc-. 'tion, said pump having a pumping chamber provided w'ith a check valve at its outlet for. preventing the fiow of discharged fluid back intothe pumping chamber, said pumping chamber being provided with a pistonpcapabie'of forcing fluid from the pumping chamber through the check valve lat its Outlet when the motor operates in.

the forward direction and to sweep fluid from the pumping chamber through the inlet when the motor operates in a reverse' direction, and an electrical generatin'g means operated by the unitfor energizing the windings of the motor to first start the motor in a reverse direction to unload the pump and then changing the energization of the winding to the motor to cause the motor to operate in a 'forward direction during the re- LF M.4 SMITH. 

